Automated Bill Payment - A service offered by some banks by which you can arrange to have certain bills paid automatically each month, with the money deducted directly from your checking account.

Automated Teller Machine (ATM ) Card - A card that allows account holders to make deposits or withdrawals from their bank accounts at any ATM location 24 hours a day using a Personal Identification Number (PIN).

B

Bank Transit Number - A fractional number that appears on checks and is used to identify the bank the check comes from; usually appears at top right on checks and is written on deposit slips by the person making the deposit

Bounced Check - A check that has been returned to the person or business who deposited it because the person who wrote the check did not have enough money in his or her account to pay it. When you “bounce” a check, the party to whom you wrote the check does not get paid, and you are usually charged a fee. Also called Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) and Overdrafts.

C

Check Card - A card that allows you to pay for things you buy without carrying cash. A check card looks like a credit card, but the amount of the purchase is deducted from your checking account rather than being added to your credit card bill. Also called a debit card.

Check - A banking document that allows you to safely and easily transfer money from your bank checking account to any other party.

Checking Account - A bank account that allows you to write checks to others to make purchases or to pay bills. When the check is deposited or cashed, the money is subtracted from your account.

Credit Counseling Service - An organization that helps consumers learn to manage their money and reduce their debts. Credit counseling services can help you work with your creditors to establish payment plans and can help you improve your credit rating.

Credit versus Debit - When using your debit card you have the option to select “credit” or “debit” to make your purchase. When you select “credit,” you do not need to input your PIN, and the purchase will be processed through the credit card provider’s network. When using the credit option, you’ll typically be required to sign a receipt or electronic pad authorizing the purchase, and you cannot get cash back. When buying something with your debit card, and selecting the “debit” option, you will need to enter your PIN into the point-of-sale machine and your transaction will be processed electronically through the ATM network. Using the debit option, you may be able to withdraw cash in addition to paying for the amount of your purchase, which can save you a trip to an ATM or branch. It’s important to note, whether you choose “debit” or “credit,” the funds are withdrawn directly from your checking account.

D

Debit Card - A card that allows you to pay for things you buy without carrying cash. A debit card looks like a credit card, but the amount of the purchase is deducted from your checking account rather than being added to your credit card bill. Also called a check card

Deposit Slip - The document used by an account holder to deposit cash or endorsed checks into his or her bank account.

Deposit - Putting money into your account, in the form of cash, checks from an employer, company or another person, or electronic deposits, such as direct deposit.

Direct Deposit - A bank service by which paychecks or other regular payments can be automatically deposited into an individual’s account, rather than sent through the mail. Direct deposit is safer and more convenient than being paid by check.

Discretionary Expenses - Expenses you choose to incur, or purchases that are beyond what you really need. Discretionary expenses are purchases that do not necessarily have to be made, or could be made in a reduced amount. Examples include eating out, going to the movies or purchases of books or magazines.

Electronic Funds Transfer Agreement - A regulatory disclosure which informs you of your rights and liabilities if you currently, or in the future, use any of the EFT services available through your institution. This agreement also advises you of your rights and liabilities in case of errors, discrepancies, or questions regarding EFTs on your account.

Endorse - to designate oneself as payee of a check by signing, usually on the reverse side of the check

Expense Tracker - A PNC tool designed to help you record expenses that you make on a day-to-day basis. Each line has room to note the item that was purchased, the amount and the type of payment (cash, check, debit card, or credit card).

F

Fee Schedule - States the fees a banking institution charges for various products and services including overdraft fees, minimum balance requirements to avoid a service charge on an account, or wire transfer fees. Many fees only apply if you chose to use a specific service. Talk to your banker to learn more and make sure you understand all fees associated with your account.

Fraud Alert - A notification placed on your account by the credit bureaus to let prospective creditors know that someone else may be using your personal information fraudulently. This is a form of Identity Theft

Funds Availability - Funds Availability policies differ among banks. You will get the information specific to your bank with the documents you receive at account opening. It’s important to note that not all deposited funds are available immediately for use. For example, if you deposit a check, it may take a few days for the funds to become available, depending on the amount of the check and whether the account is less than 30 days old. Funds deposited at ATMs not owned by the institution may take up to five days to become available (including cash deposits).

G

H

I

Identity Theft - The act of unlawfully capturing, manipulating, transferring and/or using one or more pieces of another person’s personal information (name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, account information, account log-in credentials or family identifiers) in order to establish, or take over, a credit, deposit or other financial account in that person’s name for financial gain.

J

K

L

M

Mobile Banking - A service provided by some banks that allows you to use your smart phone to inquire about your balances, get information about recent deposits, checks and withdrawals, transfer funds between linked accounts, and pay bills. Check with your mobile provider to understand data and/or text messaging plan requirements and fees associated with this service.

N

Non-Discretionary Expenses (Necessary Expenses) - Expenses that you must incur or payments that you must make, such as your rent or mortgage, car payments, utilities and grocery purchases.

Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) - An NSF check is one that has been returned to the person or business who deposited it because the person who wrote the check did not have enough money in his or her account to pay it. The person who wrote the check is usually charged a fee. Also called an Overdraft or a Bounced check.

O

Online Banking - A service provided by some banks that allows you to use the Internet to inquire about your balances, get information about recent deposits, checks and withdrawals, transfer funds between linked accounts, and pay bills.

Overdraft - An account is overdrawn when checks presented against the account exceed the account balance. Checks are then returned marked Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF).

P

Paycheck Planner - A PNC tool designed to help you organize your budget according to your paychecks. Using a form, you identify your anticipated income and expenses for each pay period.

Personal Identification Number (PIN) - A confidential number that you use along with your ATM card to make deposits or withdrawals. Your PIN prevents anyone else from using your card if it is lost or stolen.

Point-of-Sale Transaction - A purchase of goods or services using a debit card. Unlike a credit card purchase, the cost of a point of sale transaction is deducted directly from your checking account. Sometimes abbreviated as POS.

Posting Order - The order in which transactions (debits and credits) are processed at the end of a business day. This order varies from bank to bank. If there are not enough funds to cover all transactions, posting order may affect the number of fees assessed

Privacy Policy - Explains the personal information a bank collects, why it is collected, how the information is protected, and how and why in certain cases it may be shared among affiliated companies or with select other parties. A privacy policy also tells you how to exercise your personal information sharing and use choices.

Q

R

Reconcile - Reconciling a checking account is the process of verifying that you have the correct balance in your transaction register and that it matches up with the bank’s statement. To reconcile (or balance) at the end of the month, you need to compare all the items on your bank statement with those listed in your transaction register (including checks written, automatic payments, bank charges and credits, deposits and ATM withdrawals) and be sure that you have added and subtracted the amounts correctly and entered any fees and interest that appear on the statement. Some transactions in your transaction register may not have been processed by the bank when the statement is generated

Recurring Payments - Recurring Payments is another word for Automatic Payments. See Automatic Payments for definition

Regulation CC - Rules requiring financial institutions to provide customers who have a transaction account with disclosures stating when their funds will be available for withdrawal. Banks cannot hold funds beyond the times provided by the regulation

Returned Check - If you deposit a “bad check” — one from a payer who doesn’t have enough money in his/her account to pay the check in full — the amount of the check will be subtracted from your account. You may be charged a fee for depositing the item. Plus, since the amount of the check was never deposited into your account, it may cause overdrafts if you make transactions based on that deposit.

S

Savings Account - A type of bank account that pays interest on the account balance. Checks cannot be written from a savings account

Shoulder Surfing - The deceptive practice of watching a person use an ATM, debit card processor or credit card register in order to learn their account numbers or PIN number.

Social Security Number - The unique number assigned to every individual used for identification by the federal government. Health care providers, banks, insurance companies, schools and the credit bureaus also use Social Security Numbers to identify individuals.

T

Telephone Banking - A service provided by some banks that allows you to use the telephone and a PIN number to inquire about your balances, get information about recent deposits, checks and withdrawals, transfer funds between accounts, and pay bills.

Transaction Register - A written record of what you have done with your money: the deposits, purchases and withdrawals. It is also a record of checks written to pay expenses, ATM transactions and branch transactions and shows a running balance.

U

V

W

Withdrawal - Taking money out of your account including: cash taken out either in the branch or at an ATM, checks you have issued to pay bills, online bill payments, debit card transactions, and automatic deductions

X

Y

Z

Getting Started: Moving from Page to Page

Why is the Continue button gray on some pages?

Some pages require you to click through a number of items before you can move to the next page. The Continue button will become orange when you've clicked through all the screens by using the Next button at the bottom or, on some pages, by checking the appropriate boxes or by clicking on the buttons to view additional information. You cannot move forward until Continue becomes orange.

How do the Back and Next buttons at the top right work?

Use these buttons to move back and forward between the pages. You can use the Back button to move back to any page you want to review and then click on the Next button to move to where you left off. Note that you can only use the Next button at the top to move to pages you have completed. The Next button will be gray when you cannot use it to progress to the next page.

How do the Back and Next buttons work in the graphic windows of some pages?

These windows work like a click-through slide show. When you have viewed all the windows, the Next button will be gray. You can go back and forward within the graphic window by clicking on Back and Next buttons. You must click through all the slides for the Continue button to turn orange so you can move to the next page.

Can I use my browser’s back and forwards buttons to navigate through the course?

You should only use the Back and Next buttons that are in the course screens.

Stopping and Re-starting

What if I have to stop, but haven’t finished taking the course?

The next time you log in, you will be on the page where you had stopped. If you were in the middle of a section, you can use the Back button at the top of the page to review previous information.

What if I forget my password?

On the first screen, find “Forgot password?” near the bottom of the page and click on “Click Here.” In a few seconds, you will receive an email at the address you used to register for this course which will give you a reset password link. Clicking on that link brings you a screen where you can enter a new password. You will then automatically be returned to the login screen where you can login using your new password.

Passing the Course and Getting the Certificate

How does the test work?

After each of 4 sections, you'll be asked 5 questions (a total of 20). To pass, you need to answer at least 14 questions correctly. At the end, you will get your score for each of the 4 sections and the total, and you will know you if you've passed. If you did not pass, you can retake the course at any time. At the score page, and before you restart, note down which sections you did not score well in, so you can pay special attention when you review those sections.

How do I know if I passed the course?

After you complete the last test, a page will tell you if you passed or failed. You need to answer 14 questions correctly. When you pass, you will see a Certificate you can print and take to any PNC Bank branch. You will also receive an email confirming your successful completion and it will include a copy of your Certificate, which you can print or bring into a PNC branch.

If I don't pass the first time, can I retake the test?

Yes. You will need to start the course from the beginning, which you can do at your convenience. You can use the same email and password as the first time.

What if I don't have a printer to print out my Certificate?

When you go to a PNC Bank branch, ask the branch representative if you can call up your Certificate email to prove that you successfully completed the online course.

Next Steps

When I get my Completion Certificate, will I be approved for the Foundation checking account?

You can bring your Certificate into any PNC branch to apply for a Foundation Checking account. Completing the course either online or in person does not guarantee that application for a Foundation Checking account will be approved, since approval is based on several factors.

Will PNC use my email address to start marketing products and services to me?

Don't worry: PNC won't start sending emails to people who sign up at the course website. PNC won't use your information for anything besides Foundations registration.

Why do I have to provide my address when I pass the course?

PNC Bank requires this for our records but will not use it to further communicate with you and will not share it with anyone.

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Welcome to Foundations of Money Management

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